Team Hogan predict Munguia World title tilt will be Rocky IV remake

With this month marking 30 years since its release, Paul Keegan predicts that Dennis Hogan’s world title tilt will play out much like Rocky IV.

Keegan is convinced that the smaller, gutsier Hogan will upset the odds in hostile territory and the promoter admits he has massive sympathy for Jaime ‘Drago’ Munguia.

DDP’s Keegan believes Golden Boy have made a grave mistake by putting way too much pressure on pressure on the shoulders of the 22-year-old world champion.

The Brisbane-based Dubliner been taken a back by the hype the promotional outfit are trying to generate around their young champion.

During a press call to discuss the Mexican’s homecoming WBO world light middleweight title defence to Kildare’s Hogan there was more talk of Gennady Golovkin and the potential heights the champion can reach than his April 13th defence against the Killcullen man.

Rather than see it as positive in terms of Team Munguia overlooking the mandatory challenger, Keegan has begun to feel sympathy for the man he is confident Hogan will beat in Monterrey on Saturday April 13th.

Indeed Keegan even went as far as to claim home advantage viewed through that pressure prism may not be an advantage at all.

“The pressure Munguia must be under is unreal. He is 22 years of age fighting in his home country for the first time since winning the title. He has to fight in front of 17,000 Mexicans. Just imagine that pressure,” Keegan asked Irish-Boxing.com.

“I think his team and promoters are putting way too much pressure on him, more pressure than he would like.”

“During the media call last week it was about him being the next star for DAZN and who he will be fighting next year.”

Word is @GoldenBoyBoxing are extremely worried about losing the belt that @OscarDeLaHoya himself went to visit @jaimemunguia15 to help in the final prep of camp 😳They are not worried at all about @dennis_h_hogan 👍#pressure @Irishboxingcom @Kieza_cmail @ausboxing @ben_damon https://t.co/1mGCJLgh2Q

— Paul Keegan (@paulkeegs) April 3, 2019

While there is pressure on Munguia going into the fight, Keegan predicts it will be seriously increased mid-fight by the quality and durability of ‘Hurricane’ Hogan.

The Mexican is promising the kind of stoppage fans his native countryfolk love and Keegan is adamant he won’t get it. The promoter also claims that, once it is apparent it’s not coming, the pressure on the champion’s shoulders will only weigh heavier.

“He has spoken about going for the knocut but Dennis has never ever been even down before in his career so when it’s round six and Dennis is still standing in front of him what is his plan then? I don’t think he has one.”

“Then what do the 17,000 Mexicans do. They were told this guy Hogan won’t last two rounds with the so-called monster of the light middleweight division.”

Keegan, who was Hogan’s friend and sponsor before he became his promoter, has warned fans to get ready for a Rocky 4 remake.

Munguia will play Drago and Hogan Rocky. The Kildare man, who is currently finishing camp in LA, will tame the beast and win over the hostile crowd.

“This is the Rocky 4 story playing out in front of Munguia the Monster Hogan going to hostile environment But will 17,000 Mexicans be cheering ‘Hogan, Hogan, Hogan,” he adds before handing Munguia some kind words of hope.

“The positive for Munguia is he is young so after this loss he will rebuild.”